With several key fights booked in the UFC’s heavyweight division, Browne thinks 2012 could be an important year in terms of carving out a position.

“I think in the next eight or nine months is when you can really tell where the heavyweight division stands,” Browne told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). “All these fights can put somebody in those (top) spots.”

Browne debuted for the promotion in June 2010, earning a victory over James McSweeney. His next bout was a controversial draw with Cheick Kongo, but he’s since rattled off wins over Stefan Struve and Rob Broughton.

Later this month, Browne welcomes Strikeforce fighter Chad Griggs (11-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) to the octagon at UFC 145 in Atlanta. Griggs looks to join the company of Alistair Overeem, Lavar Johnson, Fabricio Werdum and Shawn Jordan, all former Strikeforce heavyweights who were victorious in their UFC debuts.

Despite the recent success of former Strikeforce fighters, Browne said he’s not concerned with any UFC vs. Strikeforce rivalry.

“When that cage closes, it’s man vs. man,” Browne said. “I don’t care if you’re from Strikeforce. I don’t care if you’re from Bellator, from Gladiator Challenge or any of those organizations. It doesn’t matter. That guy is trying to hurt me, and I’m in there to do the same thing. Man on man. It doesn’t matter. He bleeds just as much as I do, no matter what organization he’s from.”

Instead, Browne said he’s simply focused on furthering his career. At 6-foot-7, Browne has the physical mass of a heavyweight champion, but now he’s focused on rounding out the skillset. A recent move from California’s Alliance MMA camp to New Mexico’s famed Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA has proven beneficial, and now Browne hopes for some time to soak it all in.

“I think at this point, where I sit right now, I’m a good look for just about anybody,” Browne said. “I think I’d give anybody a hard fight. For me, though, I would like to take my time, develop my skills and really become immersed in the whole MMA sport – really wrap my head around it and get the concepts of every single martial art there is that I’ve been a part of.

“I just moved from Alliance to Jackson’s, and there’s a different feel here at Jackson’s. There’s a different kind of style, and it’s something I’m picking up, and I’m becoming really good at. I’d like to take my time a little bit as far as making a run at the title.”

Of course, things can happen quickly in the UFC’s heavyweight division, and now is a key time in that class. May’s UFC 146 all-heavyweight main card will shake up the rankings, and there are both UFC and Strikeforce fights before then to further complicate the division. So while the 29-year-old Browne said he’s in no rush to get to the top, he may find himself further up the ladder in relatively short order.

“Someone could drop out May 26, and I’m fighting a big-name opponent, and then there I am,” Browne said. “I’m in the No. 2, 3, 4 spot for fighting for the title, which could be later this year or early next year. So it’s really hard to tell. It all depends how these fights go.

“I think that could be one reason why they did an all-heavyweight card. They are lacking kind of in that No. 3-4 spot. The top three-to-four guys right now are obviously Junior Dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir. But after that, who do you have to fight for the title? So I think they’re putting these heavyweight fights together hoping that everything works out with the Strikeforce tournament. You still have Josh Barnett and Daniel Cormier. You have Antonio Silva.”

So for Browne, his bout with Griggs may carry more significance than one might originally think. Sure, it’s high time for a UFC vet to down a Strikeforce import, but more than that, Browne knows the next few months could prove vital to moving up in the rankings.

“There’s a lot of guys still out there, but nobody has really taken that leap yet,” Browne said. “Nobody has made that statement and said, ‘I’m the No. 3 spot, so as soon as they’re done fighting, I want my shot.'”

MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

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